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Kottayam: Indian coffee and pepper growers will be provided financial support for rejuvenation and replantation of their existing crop, union commerce minister Anand Sharma said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Rubber Research Institute of India here after the launch of two high yielding clones, Sharma said the new package for pepper will provide support of Rs 100 crore, of which Rs 53 crore would be given as subsidy. It is expected to increase pepper production in 17,250 ha and support 20,000 farmers. The new package would be for the farmers of Wayanad district in Kerala and some areas of North East. The spices board with the support of the respective state governments would implement the programme, he added.

But Sharma refused to divulge the details of the new package for coffee targeted at the small growers.

Commerce ministry had earlier announced a package for the rejuvenation of pepper farming in the Idukki district. Implemented by the Spice Board, the package has a financial assistance of Rs 230 crore dedicated to support 33,000 ha of pepper farmers in the Idukki district of Kerala.

Cardamom would be provided a financial assistance of Rs 122 crore, while the Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram and Indian Institute of Plantation Management in Bangalore would get special funds for research in plantations, he said.

Regarding the demand of rubber growers to increase the subsidy component of assistance given for replanting rubber trees from the existing 20% to 30%, the minister said the commerce ministry was positive in the matter and would take the issue with the Planning Commission.

“The issue of cheaper tyre imports from China will be discussed with the directorate of anti-dumping and decision would be expedited,” he added.

The commerce minister said India would have to look outward and search for new markets in Asia, South America, and Africa to reach the stature of an economic superpower. “The government is committed to fully protect the interests of our farmers while engaging in trade treaties and gives categorical assurance on it,” he added while answering questions of the Asean Free Trade Agreement. The two new rubber clones RRII 417 and RRII 422 released on the occasion are high yielding.